Tank car



Nov, 13, 1934.

C H. FOLMSBEE TANK CAR Filed June 1, 193.3 s Sheets-Sheet -1 INVENTOR, Clyde H. Folmsbee ATTORNE Y Nov. 13, 1934.

C. H. 'F OLMSBEE TANK CA'R Filed June 1, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR Clyde H. Folmsbee ATTORNEY Nov.- 13, 1934. c. H. FOLMSBEE 1,980,674

TANK CAR Filed Juhe 1, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Clyde H. Folmsbee om q e AWMQQQQ NN.\

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Patented Nov. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES TANK CAR Clyde H. Folmsbee, Berwick, Pa., assignor to American Car and Foundry Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application June 1, 1933, Serial No. 673,843

17 Claims.

This invention relates generally to tank cars and has particular reference to a car tank adapted for transporting liquid lading which is of a nature such as to necessitate it being maintained in cooled condition.

One object of this invention is the provision of a refrigerated railway tank car.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a new and improved railway car tank for transporting liquids in a cool condition.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a new and improved means for supporting a railway car tank on an underframe.

Other objects and advantages of this invenr tion will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a broken top plan view of a railway tank car of the present invention, certain parts of the tank being broken away to disclose other parts more clearly;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2--2, Fig.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged and broken sectional view showing the specific means for supporting the car tank at the tank anchor, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail sectional view showing the means for connecting the outer sheathing to the tank body or shell.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings the car tank of the present invention is indicated generally at A and is mounted on an underframe indicated generally at B, said underfrarne being of any preferred or desired construction and, in the instance shown, comprising side sills 2, end sills 4 and center sills 6, the latter being channels having top flanges 8 as more clearly shown in Fig. 4.

The tank A is designed for transporting liquids and is provided with means for maintaining such liquids in cool condition. In the instance shown the tank is formed of aluminum and comprises a cylindrical shell or body portion 10, the ends of which are closed by tank heads 12 of which only one thereof is shown in the drawings (see Fig. 3). The heads 12 abut the end portions of the shell or body 10 and are welded to said shell at 14. For reinforcing the welded joint between the shell 10 and the head 12 a reinforcing annular member 16 is provided which laps the joint as shown in Fig. 3 and is welded to the shell 10 and head 12 at 18, thus providing a strong and durable connection between the shell and head.

The tank A is provided with external insulation 20 covered by an outer sheathing 22, the latter being connected to the shell 10 by connecting elements 24 as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. In the instance shown, for securing the outer sheathing 22 in position relative to the tank A, the connecting elements 24 comprise 2 sections 26 welded to the outer surface of the shell 10 and connected with angle members 28 secured to or connected with the outer sheathing 22. To prevent transference of heat units through the outer sheathing 22, and the connecting elements 24 to the tank A the members 26 and 28 forming the connecting elements 24 have interposed therebetween suitable insulating material 30 as shown clearly in Fig. 5. As shown in Fig. 3, for reinforcing the outer sheathing 22 and for maintaining the same in proper position filler blocks 32 are interposed between the shell 10 and sheathing 22. The tank also is provided with suitable upper runningboards 34 supported on brackets 36 secured to the sheathing 22 and with ladders 38 which extend downwardly to lower runningboards 40 secured to the side sills 2 of the underframe. The car tank A is also provided with a hand rail 42 supported on brackets 44 secured to the sheathing22.

The tank A is provided with a dome 46 having a dome cover 48 which, in the instance shown, is hingedly connected to the dome as shown at 50. Arranged within the dome is an inner closure member or partition 52 which supports suitable valved tank fittings 54 and 56 respectively which are covered by the dome cover 48; the fitting 54 being connected-to a filling and discharge pipe 58, the lower end of which is arranged within a sump formed in the lower portion of the shell 10. Inasmuch as the sump and the arrangement of the filling pipe therein is more or less conventional it has not been illustrated in the drawings. The fitting 56 is an escape valve to permit the escape of gas from the interior of the tank A during filling thereof. The dome 46 is provided with suitable openings through one of which a pipe may extend to be connected with the valved fitting 54 for delivering liquid to the filling pipe 58 to fill the tank. The other opening 60 is adapted to receive a pipe to be connected with the fitting 56 whereby when the tank is being filled through the filling pipe 58, excess gas may be discharged out of the tank through the fitting 56 and the pipe connected thereto. The openings 60 are normally closed by removable caps 62. The tank A is also preferably provided with safety valves 64. Formed in the upper portion of the tank are hatchways 56, preferably two arranged longitudinally in spaced relation on each side of the dome 46, the hatchways being provided with an inner plug 68 and a hatch cover 70 and permitting the insertion of a refrigerating medium such as water ice or other suitable refrigerant into closed containers C arranged within the tank A and extending longitudinally thereof. In practice, at least two of these closed containers are provided arranged respectively on opposite sides of the dome 46 or, in other words, positioned in each end portion of the tank A.

Each container C comprises a main or body portion 72 'arcuate in shape, as shown clearly in Fig. 2 with its upper edge portions welded as at 74 or otherwise suitably secured to the inner surface of the shell 10. The containers C also include end closures or caps 76 welded to the ends of the body portion 72 at 78 and secured to the inner surface of the shell 10 at their upper edges in any suitable manner as by being welded thereto; the construction providing a substantially leak-proof closed container. If water ice is used as the refrigerating medium a drain pipe 80 is provided which extends downwardly from each container 72 and has its lower end arranged to discharge meltage water below the car underframe.

Depending from each-container C and more particularly from the body portion 72 thereof are spaced longitudinal bafile plates 82 the end portions of which are connected, for example, by welding to transversely arranged baffles 84 which are welded at 86 to the containers 0 and extend entirely across the tank as shown more particularly in Fig. 2. For stiffening the bafiies 82 and 84 reinforcing tubes 88 are provided which extend transversely across the tank and arewelded to the latter and to the lower edge portions of the bailies 84. Formed in the baffles 82 adjacent the upper portions thereof are a plurality of openings 90 which, as will be more fully described hereinafter,- provide for circulation of the liquid within the tank. The transverse baffles 84 terminate below the upper portion of the tank so as to provide circulation spaces 92 thereabove.

The underframe B includes bolsters 94 and the tank adjacent its end portions is supported on cradles 96 including wood blocks 98, all as shown in Fig. 2. For holding the tank on its cradles 96 tank bands 100 are provided which are connected to the cradles in any suitable manner such as that indicated in Fig. 2 at 102.

The tank A, as beforementioned, is formed of aluminum though obviously it maybe formed of any suitable or desired metal. It has been found desirable to provide a reinforcing supporting element for the tank A in addition to the cradles 96, and to that end the present invention includes a tank rest element R comprising a curved plate 104 which extends longitudinally of the underframe and is provided along its opposite side edge portions with fastening plates 106 riveted as at 108 to said plate 104 and substantially coextensive with the latter, said fastening plates 106 being oifset as at 110 and being welded at 112 to the shell 10 of the tank A. Intermediate the ends of the tank rest element the tank is anchored to the underframe as shown clearly in Fig. 4, the plate 104 being riveted as at 114 to the oppositely arranged plates 116 of a tank anchor which may be of the form shown in patent to Auchincloss 1,336,410 of Apr 13, 1920; said tank anchor comprising an upper element 118 riveted as at 120 to the center sills 8 and having its side edge portions downwardly flanged at 122 and attached to the depending portions 124 of the anchor elements or plates 116 in any suitable 'should be maintained at a low temperature, such liquid lading being, for example, beer, and with ice in the refrigerant containers C, the lading is maintained in cooled condition due to the fact that as the lading in the lower portion of the tank increases in temperature it may flow up wardly into surface contact with the containers C and with the bafiles 82 and 84 whereby it is cooled and descends in the tank; this arrangement providing for a constant circulation of liquid lading in the tank into and out of contact with a cooled surface, the eifective area of which is increased by the provision of the bafiies 82 and 84. In the construction described it will be apparent that the body A of the car tank is reinforced against deformation or collapse by the transverse baffles 84 which extend between oppo-, site portions of the tank and which baffles are braced against bending by means of the longitudinal bailles 82. Inasmuch as a plurality of refrigerating containers C with their associated baiiles are employed (two in the present instance) it is obvious that the tank body A is stiffened and reinforced against deformation or tendency to collapse at a plurality of zones. It will further be apparent to those skilled in the art that the elements 88, tubes in the instance shown, though this is merely by way of example, in addition to stiffening the baffles 84 also serve as struts between opposite side portions of the car tank body A.

It will also be apparent that the construction described provides a very effective means for re inforcing the lower -portion of the tank body against deformation, the means employed in .the present instance being the tank supporting element or tank rest element R which extends substantially the entire length of the tank A.

From the description above it is believed that the construction of the car of the present invention will be fully apparent to those skilled in the art. The drawings herein include one embodiment of the invention but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details of construction shown asthese details are for illustrative purposes only and various changes in the form and proportions of the construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims Without departing from the spirit of the invention. I

What is claimed is 1. In a railway car tank for the transportation of liquid lading, a body, and means for maintaining the liquid lading at a low temperature comprising refrigerant holding containers in the body and provided with baffles secured thereto and connected with the body and depending below the containers to increase the effective cooling areas.

2. In a railway car tank for transportingv liquid lading, a body and means for maintaining the liquid lading at a low temperature comprising refrigerant holding containers secured to the upper portions of the body and arranged in lon- 3. In a railway car tank comprising an insulated body and a dome, means for maintaining liquid lading at a low temperature comprising refrigerant holding containers arranged in longitudinally space relation within the body and welded to the upper portions thereof, and longitudinally and transversely arranged. baffles secured to said containers, said transversely arranged bafiies extending between opposite portions of the body and being welded thereto and to the longitudinal bafiies.

4. In a railway car tank comprising an insulated body, a tank rest member in which the tank is arranged and to which it is secured, said member being substantially coextensive with the tank and conforming with the shape of the lower portion thereof whereby to reinforce said tank, refrigerant holding containers arranged in longitudinally spaced relation within the tank and welded to the upper portion thereof, and baffles secured to the containers and depending below the latter to increase the effective cooling areas, certain of said baffles being also secured to the body.

5. In a railway car tank comprising an insulated body, a tank rest member in which the tank is arranged and to which it is secured, said member being substantially coextensive with the tank and conforming with the shape of the lower portion thereof whereby to reinforce said tank, refrigerant holding containers arranged in longitudinally spaced relation within the body and welded to the upper portion thereof, and bafiles secured to the containers and depending below the latter to increase the effective cooling areas, certain of said baffles being also secured to the body and extending transversely thereof.

6. A refrigerated railway car tank comprising a body having refrigerant holding containers extending longitudinally therein and arranged in longitudinally spaced relation relative to the body, apertured baffles secured to and depending from the containers and arranged longitudinally thereof, and transverse bafiies extending across the body and connected thereto and to said apertured baffles.

7. In a refrigerated railway car tank a body having a dome, refrigerant holding containers within the body and secured to the upper portion thereof and arranged in relative longitudinally spaced relation, hatches leading into said containers, and baffles secured to and depending from said containers for increasing the effective cooling areas thereof, said baffles being connected with the body whereby to reinforce said containers.

8. In a railway car tank for the transportation of liquid lading, a body having a dome, and means for maintaining liquid lading at a low temperature comprising closed refrigerant holding containers arranged in longitudinally spaced relation within the body and secured to and depending from the upper portion thereof whereby to be immersed in the lading.

9. In a refrigerator tank car, a body having refrigerant holding containers arranged therein and secured thereto, and means for reinforcing the tank against deformation comprising rigid members extending transversely of the tank between opposite portions thereof, said members being secured to the refrigerant containers whereby they are in heat conductive relation therewith to increase the effective cooling areas.

10. In a railway car tank a body, a refrigerant container within the body, baffle plates depending from the container'and extending longitudinally of the body and astrut extending transversely of the body and connected to opposite portions of the latter and to said baffles.

11. In a railway car tank for the transportation of liquid lading, a body, a refrigerant holding container within the body and welded to the latter in such a manner as to provide a sealing connection with the body to prevent leakage from the container into the lading, a drain pipe from the container discharging outside the body, and body stiffening elements secured to the container and extending transversely of the body, said stiffening elements constituting baffling means for the lading and providing for increased effective cooling areas for the lading.

12. In a railway car tank for the transportation of liquid lading, a lading-holding body provided with a dome projecting upwardly therefrom, and means for maintaining the liquid lading at a low temperature comprising refrigerantholding containers arran ed in the body in direct heat exchange relation to the lading and provided withbaffles secured thereto and connected with the body and depending below the con tainers into the lading.

13. In a railway car tank for the transportation of liquid lading, a body, and means for refrigerating the lading comprising refrigerantholding containers arranged within the lading zone of the body and secured to the upper portion thereof, said containers being arranged in longitudinally spaced relation, baffles secured to said containers and extending longitudinally of the body, and other baffles arranged transversely of the body and secured to opposite portions thereof and to said first named baffles.

14. In a refrigerated railway car tank, a body having a dome, refrigerant-holding containers within the body in direct heat exchange relation with the lading in said body, said containers being secured to the upper portion of the body and being arranged in relative longitudinally spaced relation, hatches leading into said containers, and baiiles secured to and depending from said containers to increase the effective cooling areas thereof, said baffles being connected with the body whereby to reinforce said containers.

15. In a railway oar tank for the transportation of liquid lading and the like, a body provided with a dome, and a closed refrigerantholding container within the body, and secured to the upper portion thereof, and means connecting the container to opposite side portions of the body below the upper portion thereof.

16. In a railway car tank for the transportation of liquid lading and the like, a body provided with a dome, a closed refrigerant-holding container within the body, and baffles secured to the container and to the body in such a manner as to extend into the lading.

17. In a railway car tank, a lading-holding body provided with a dome, and closed refrigerant-holding containers arranged within the body on opposite sides of the dome, and in longitudinally spaced relation with respect to the body.

CLYDE H. FOLMSBEE. 

